Four Seahawks Selected First-Team All-Pro

Richard Sherman was on his way to a touchdown after Seahawks teammate Red Bryant blocked a field goal in the Seahawks’ 42-13 triumph over the San Francisco 49ers. / Rod Mar, Seattle Seahawks

Four members of the Seattle Seahawks — RB Marshawn Lynch, C Max Unger, CB Richard Sherman and S Earl Thomas — were selected first-team All-Pro by The Associated Press Saturday, a day before the quartet will face the Atlanta Falcons in an NFC divisional playoff game at the Georgia Dome. The four first-team selections matches the franchise record.

The only other time the Seahawks placed four on the NFL’s most prestigious All-Star team was 2005 when the club was represented by RB Shaun Alexander, OG Steve Hutchinson, OT Walter Jones and FB Mack Strong.

The Seahawks have twice had three first-team All-Pros, in 1984 with S Kenny Easley, K Norm Johnson and DT Joe Nash, and in 2007 with Jones, DE Patrick Kearney and LB Lofa Tatupu. Easley became the first, first-team All-Pro in franchise history following the 1983 season.

Kick returner Leon Washington was the last Seahawk to make any All-Pro team, when he was a second-team selection in 2010.

Lynch, Unger, Sherman and Thomas, all of whom made the NFC Pro Bowl team announced two weeks ago, are each All-Pros for the first time.

Lynch rushed for 1,590 yards and 11 touchdowns in the regular season and caught 23 passes for 196 yards and another touchdown. He finished third in the league in rushing. In Seattle’s 24-14 win over the Washington Redskins last Sunday in the NFC Wild Card game, Lynch added 132 yards and one touchdown. The 132 yards matched the franchise record set by Alexander.

Unger, who served as Seattle’s offensive captain this season, helped pave the way for 10 100-yard rushing games by Lynch. Unger started all 16 regular-season games plus the wild card game last Sunday.

Thomas also started all 16 games at safety. He finished with 61 tackles, three interceptions and 10 passes defensed. He also forced a fumble and had two quarterback hits.

Sherman tied for second in the NFL with eight interceptions, most by a Seahawk since Darryl Williams also had eight in 1997. Sherman was the NFC Defensive Player of the Week Nov. 11 for his performance against the New York Jets. Sherman scored his first career touchdown Dec. 9 against Arizona when he intercepted a pass and returned it 19 yards to a touchdown.

Sherman also scored on a 90-yard return of a blocked field goal against the San Francisco 49ers Dec. 23.

First-Team Offense

QB Peyton Manning, Broncos
RB Adrian Peterson, Vikings
RB Marshawn Lynch, Seahawks
FB Vonta Leach, Ravens
TE Tony Gonzalez, Falcons
WR Calvin Johnson, Lions
WR Brandon Marshall, Bears
OT Duane Brown, Texans
OT Ryan Clady, Broncos
G Mike Iupati, 49ers
G Jahri Evans, Saints
C Max Unger, Seahawks
K Blair Walsh, Vikings
KR Jacoby Jones, Ravens